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Toei has released new images and poster art for their upcoming computer animated theatrical feature SAINT SEIYA: LEGEND OF SANCTUARY (聖闘士星矢 LEGEND of SANCTUARY, Seinto Seiya Legend of Sanctuary). The sixth movie — but the first CG film — based on Masami Kurumada’s manga Saint Seiya, LEGEND OF SANCTUARY will open in Japan on Saturday, June 21st.

Toei has also issued the following press release regarding the film’s theme song…

We are pleased to announce that Yoshiki, leader of globally renowned band X Japan, has written the worldwide theme song for the new movie version of SAINT SEIYA: LEGEND OF SANCTUARY, brought to film to honor the 40th anniversary of Masami Kurumada’s passionate career as a manga creator.

Saint Seiya (a.k.a Knights of the Zodiac) was a highly popular series in the manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump in 1985-1990. The manga was made into anime and broadcast on television only nine months after it began to be published; an unusually fast transition into animation on television at that time. The anime earned deeply rooted popularity among many fans with its diverse array of deadly techniques utilized by attractive characters and knights. It became a masterpiece representative of the 1980s. The total worldwide number of copies printed of the original books reached 34.4 million and the animated version was broadcast on television in over 80 countries including France, Italy and Brazil, gaining a tremendous following and cementing its popularity.

Yoshiki penned the worldwide theme song for the new movie based on Saint Seiya. Yoshiki is the leader and pianist of X Japan, and also just announced that he will embark on a world solo tour, Yoshiki Classical World Tour 2014, playing 13 venues in 10 countries. The song is called “Hero (Yoshiki Classical Version),” and will be sung by Katie Fitzgerald, vocalist of Violet UK, a band also led by Yoshiki. The main reason for the collaboration is that Yoshiki’s global success synchronizes with the world tour of the SAINT SEIYA movie. A new legend will be born with the fusion of contents and an artist that have seized the world’s attention.

Yoshiki’s Comments

I feel greatly honored to write the theme song for SAINT SEIYA. I truly believe I have created a touching song with a beautiful melody using a hero as the motif.

I very happily accepted this offer since I of course knew SAINT SEIYA and I am a great fan of anime. I saw the manga a long time ago. Before writing the song I had the chance to see the new movie, which feels like it was created at a magnificent scale. I actually faced a big struggle with matching my music with the movie. The result is a sort of ballad, rather than a loud piece. I think the song suits the magnificent scale sensitivity of SAINT SEIYA.

I will play this song during the upcoming Yoshiki Classical World Tour at 13 venues in 10 countries.

Profile of Yoshiki, Writer of the Theme Song

Yoshiki is the leader, drummer and pianist of X Japan, a Japanese rock band that debuted in 1989. His past solo works include a song honoring the 10th anniversary of the accession of the Emperor of Japan (1999), the official theme song of the Aichi Expo (2005) and the official theme song for the GOLDEN GLOBE (2012).

“Yoshiki Classical”, Yoshiki’s solo album released last year, was his first in roughly eight years. The epic work comprises newly released pieces and greatest hits from his previous two solo albums. This latest release, the subject of worldwide attention, was ranked #1 in the iTunes Store classical music album section in 10 countries including Canada, Japan and other Asian countries. The work also made the top 10 in France, Norway and Australia.

The movie’s theme song, “Hero (Yoshiki Classical Version),” is performed as a classical version based on piano played by Yoshiki and sung by Katie Fitzgerald, a vocalist from Violet UK, also led by Yoshiki.

His first world solo tour “YOSHIKI CLASSICAL WORLD TOUR PART1” begins April 25, with performances at 13 venues in 10 countries.

Established in 1951, Toei Company is not only producing and distributing films, but it is also one of the major exhibitors in Japan. The company owns two film studios located in Tokyo and Kyoto. The films produced cover wide range of genres, exceeding 20,000 titles.

For more information on SAINT SEIYA: LEGEND OF SANCTUARY please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: